PORTLAND, Ore. — CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST REAL-TIME UPDATES
Cases of COVID-19, a new strain of coronavirus, began popping up in the United States in January. On Feb. 28, the first case in Oregon was announced.
Every few days, we will post a new blog that tracks the daily changes in Oregon and Southwest Washington as we get them. Click here to see updates from March 18-21
BY THE NUMBERS
As of Wednesday morning:
- Oregon: 8 deaths, 209 cases Latest Oregon numbers
- Washington: 123 deaths, 2,469 cases Latest Washington numbers
- United States: 790 deaths, 55,243 cases Latest U.S. numbers
- World: 19,674 deaths, 483,749 cases Latest global numbers
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
7:00 a.m.
- The White House and Senate leaders of both parties announced agreement early Wednesday on unprecedented emergency legislation to rush sweeping aid to businesses, workers and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
8:25 p.m.
- An Oregon nurse pulls back the curtain and describes what life is like for front-line health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. "I've never felt more vulnerable," she said. Learn more
- As many businesses are forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many essential businesses are in need of more help. Here are several businesses in Portland hiring currently. Learn more
6:50 p.m.
- Washington reports 13 more deaths and nearly 250 more coronavirus cases. The statewide total is now up to 123 deaths and 2,469 cases. Learn more
- Geneva Wood was living at Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, after a stroke when she got sick. Wood originally developed pneumonia on Feb. 18, but a coronavirus diagnosis didn’t come until later. Wood left the hospital and is with family. Photos showed her being wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair and waving from her walker when she arrived home. Learn more
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s order to stay home established definitive guidelines on where people can go and what businesses can stay open, but some owners and managers complain it’s not clear enough. Learn more
- If you are an Oregonian who is worried about the social distancing your work is enforcing (or not), you can contact OSHA. The violations must have occurred at the workplace during work hours. You can file a report with OSHA online in English or Spanish, and if you need advice on how to keep your workplace safe, you can visit this website. Learn more
- Lisa Marchese grew up in Seattle but now lives and works in Italy. She agreed to share some reflections about living through the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Learn more
- As much of our daily life comes to a halt, the need for food does not. The Oregon Food Bank is hoping to take one more worry off your plate. Learn more
- Several people reached out to KGW saying many people in the stores are not keeping their distance from others. Some stores are starting to enact new policies with the hopes of protecting customers and workers. Learn more
- With the 2020 Summer Olympics being pushed back to 2021, so are the U.S. track and field trials that were scheduled in Eugene later this year. Learn more
4:30 p.m.
- OMSI has announced it will be making temporary layoffs and pay cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It hopes to rehire its employees at a later date. Read more.
- The Waterfront Blues Festival, an annual summer tradition that draws thousands to Portland, has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s festival was scheduled for July 2-5. Learn more
1:30 p.m.
- As social distancing becomes a necessity to curb the spread of the coronavirus, more Portland-area grocery stores are offering home delivery. Other stores are offering curbside pickup for online orders. Learn more
- Portland Police Chief Jami Resch said calls for suicide attempts or suicide threats with or without a weapon are up 41% since this time in 2019 and 23% from the 10 days prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. It's important people check in on family and friends via phone, video chat, text or email, Resch said. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255. Learn more
12:20 p.m.
- Oregon health officials report three more coronavirus deaths in the state and 18 new cases of COVID-19. Eight people have died of the coronavirus in Oregon. The state now has a total of 209 known cases. Learn more
- Clark County reports three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the southwest Washington county to 16. Four people have died. Learn more
MONDAY, MARCH 23
11:30 p.m.
- Coronavirus model shows Oregon hospitals overwhelmed by mid-April; "point of no return" for intervention to work between March 24-29. Learn more
- From Grand Prix Motors in the Goose Hollow neighborhood to River Pig Saloon in the Pearl District, business owners are not taking any chances. They are protecting themselves against looters who may be looking for an opportunity. Learn more
- A lot of people are looking for things to keep them busy while observing stay-at-home orders connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. One good use of time could be tackling a neglected home maintenance to-do list. Learn more
9:30 p.m.
- Nurses at hospitals and facilities on the front lines of Oregon’s battle with COVID-19 are in danger of running out of personal protective equipment as early as Tuesday morning, said a rep for the union representing them. Some nurses have already resorted to extreme measures to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Learn more
- Intel said it will donate 1 million pieces of protective equipment to health care providers fighting the coronavirus. Learn more
- Oregon pushed back the deadline to remove studded traction tires due to the coronavirus pandemic. The original deadline was April. The new deadline is May 1. Learn more
- Here's a list of Oregon businesses that were shut down by Gov. Brown's stay-home order. Learn more
6:25 p.m.
- Washington has joined at least a dozen other states in issuing orders for residents to "stay-at-home," in an effort to slow the growing coronavirus outbreak. Only "essential businesses" may remain open to the public. Gov. Jay Inslee announced the statewide order at Monday at 5:30 p.m. The order takes effect immediately for residents, and in 48 hours for businesses. The order will be in place for two weeks. Learn more
- There are now 110 coronavirus deaths among at least 2,221 overall cases in Washington, the Washington State Department of Health reports. A total of 31,712 people (93% of tests) have tested negative for the virus. The new total number of cases is up more than 200 from over the weekend. Learn more
- President Donald Trump has announced that the October 1 deadline for Real ID will be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. During a press briefing from the White House on Monday, the president said the deadline is being pushed back, but he didn't announce a new deadline. Learn more
- Portland-based footwear company KEEN donates 100,000 shoes amid the coronavirus crisis. Learn more
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said her stay-at-home order was made to "protect all of Oregon." The governor said she spent the weekend examining other states’ stay-home measures and talked with Oregon public health officials and more than 200 elected officials from around the state. Learn more
- Here's some clarity on what is and isn't allowed in Oregon under the new stay-home order. Learn more
- Brown's stay-home order limits how child care businesses can operate. Child care facilities can stay open only if they limit the number of kids in a group to 10 and can keep those 10 kids separate from any other children who may be there. Learn more
2:00 p.m.
- Portland and Vancouver announced all public playgrounds, outdoor sports courts and fields (including basketball courts, skateparks, tennis courts, soccer fields) are closed and should be avoided to limit the spread of COVID-19. Learn more
12:30 p.m.
- Oregon Health Authority reported 30 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 191. The COVID-19 cases reported Monday were in the following counties: Clackamas (2), Hood River (1), Linn (1), Marion (8), Multnomah (2), Polk (2), Washington (14). Learn more
12:00 p.m.
- A fourth person has died of COVID-19 in Clark County, health officials said. Three more people tested positive for novel coronavirus in the county, bringing the total number of cases in Clark County to 13. Learn more
10:45 a.m.
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued strict orders Monday to shut down non-essential businesses and constrain social and recreational gatherings. Learn more
- International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told USA TODAY that based on the info the IOC has, the 2020 Summer games are going to be postponed. Learn more
SUNDAY, MARCH 22
7:45 p.m.
- Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has sent a pointed message Sunday to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, calling on the governor to order people to stay home to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 spread. Wheeler said he hopes Brown will act soon. If she doesn't, he said he's "ready to act for Portland tomorrow", meaning a stay-at-home order is probably coming for Portlanders on Monday. Learn more
- Despite state leaders urging people to stay home and practice social distancing due to the spread of COVID-19, beaches, parking lots and roads at the Oregon Coast have been packed with crowds all weekend. Many people don't seem concerned about social distancing or the impact the crowds could have on the people who live there. As a result, coastal mayors have ordered visitors to leave. Learn more
- A resident of the Oregon Veterans' Home in Lebanon died from the coronavirus early Sunday morning, according to a press release from the facility. The death is the fifth in Oregon connected to COVID-19. Earlier Sunday, the Oregon Health Authority announced there were 24 more known cases of the coronavirus. There are now a total 161 known cases in Oregon, including five people who have died. Learn more
- All Oregon State Parks are set to close Monday in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak. Learn more
- Multnomah Falls will no longer be accessible to hikers looking to check out the waterfalls as the Forest Service tries to slow the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. Learn more
- A Beaverton man accused of stealing thousands of respirator masks from a Portland business was arrested Saturday, according to police. Learn more
CLOSINGS AND CANCELLATIONS
The table below shows events, organizations and businesses that announced closures to help flatten the curve during this outbreak.